Support for rearview mirrors



Nov. 4, 1952 G, GROSSE 2,616,649

SUPPORT FOR REARVIEW MIRRORS Filed Aug. 30, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

@gar e Grosse @Z0/QQ@ Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATE S PATENT OFFICE 3f Claims 1 The present invention relates to' a support; forrear view mirrors and it consists in thecombinaetions, constructions, and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally the invention comprises a support for a rear view mirror and particularly those mounted upon truck tractors. or the like,` the latter usually protruding for a considerable. distance outwardly of the cab ofv such tractor thus causing the samey to be always in a position whereby they may be damaged by the sides of doors, adjacent trucks and the like. Provision is made; the device embodying the present;y invention whereby the same may be bent forwardly or rearwardly without damage, the same being provided with shock absorbing means and means for returning the same to its normal position.

It is accordingly an object of ie invention to provide a device of the character set forth which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet effective and eiiicent in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a device of the character set forth of novel yieldable self-aligning Ishock absorbers.

Other and further objects of the invention will :become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, partly in section, but illustrating how the device may be bent prior to automatically returning to the position shown in Figure 1 which is the normal position of the device, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary reduced elevational View of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein a laterally extending bracket lll which is axed to a truck II or the like by means of metal screws I2 or the like. Io the bracket is afxed a base plate I3 by means of a metal strap I4 and bolts or screws I5.

The plate I3 extends laterally outwardly and is provided with a centrally disposed longitudinally extending slot I6 and with rearwardly extending integrally formed ears I'I.

An intermediate plate I8 is provided at its outer end with a pair of forwardly extending ears I9 which are interconnected pivotally with the for.- Ward ends of the ears I1 by means of a vertically extending shaft 20. The plate I8 is likewise provided with a centrally disposed longitudinally extending slot ZI.

The plate I8 is provided at its inner end with a pair of rearwardly extending ears 2-2 which arev connected by means of a vertically extending shaft. 23` with forwardly extending ears 24 of a.

support plate 25 the ears 2'4- beingconnectedl with the ears 2 2 at the inner ends of the ears. 24.

An opening 26 is centrally provided in the supe port, plate` 25= and has, extending thereacross a bar 21. aflixed to. the outer end of they base plate I3 by means of a bolt 29. or the. like and. is provided with an integrally formed inwardly directed foot 3B at its outer end which `ioot isfprovded with opening, 3l.: A tension spring 32 extends through the. openings, I6. and 2l. and. isv provided with. eyes,y 33 and 34 at its opposite ends. The eye 33V is engaged with the brackets y28 by passing the same through the opening 3| while the -eye 34 is engaged over the bar 21 in the opening 26.

A bolt 35 extends rearwardly through the outer end of the support plate 25 and has vertically pivotally mounted thereon the inner end 36 of a mirror support arm 3l upon the outer end of which is affixed a mirror 38. Outwardly of the end 36 a washer 39 is mounted upon the bolt 35 and a second washer 40 abuts a nut 4I threaded upon the outer end of the bolt 35. A compression spring 42 surrounds the bolt 35 and bears against the washers 39 and 4D to maintain the arm 3l in preselected positions.

In operation, it will be apparent that if the arm 31 or mirror 38 impinges against an object such as the side of a door or an adjacent truck or automobile that the same will not be broken by such contact but that should such object come into contact therewith in the direction of the arrow 43 in Figure 1 of the drawing, the plate 25 will move in the direction of the arrow 45 in Figure 2 of the drawing while the intermediate plate I8 will remain in position and thereafter when no further pressure is being applied to the device in the direction of the arrows 43 and 45, the spring 32 will act to retract the device to its normal position shown in Figure 1.

Again, if an object is encountered in the direction of the arrow 44 in Figure 1 the arm 3l' and the plate 25 will be bent in the direction of the arrow 46 in Figure 1 and to the position of the device shown therein. In this case the arms 25 and I8 will move as a unit upon the pivot 20 against the action of the spring 32 which will act, after such object has been passed, to returnV the device again to its normal position shown in Figure 1. Thus it will be seen that the device not only acts as a shock absorber but that it will prevent breakage of the ordinary supporting means A forwardly extending,l bracket 28 is,

for a mirror such as is shown at 38 due to the fact that the plate 25 will yield in one direction While the plates I8 and 25 will yield in the other direction when objects are encountered by either the mirror or its supporting arm 31.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a laterally extending bracket adapted to be attached to the body of a Vehicle, a base plate aiiixed to and extending outwardly from said bracket, an intermediate plate pivoted at its outer end to the outer end of said base plate, a

support plate pivoted at its inner end to the inner end of the intermediate plate, and yieldable means for normally holding said plates in substantially parallel condition to one another, said means including a tension spring attached at one end to the base plate and at its other end to said support plate and extending through said intermediate plate.

2. A device of the character described comprising a laterally extending bracket adapted to be attached to the body of a Vehicle, a base plate amxed to and extending outwardly from said bracket, an intermediate plate pivoted at its outer end to the outer end of said base plate, a support plate pivoted at its inner end to the inner end of the intermediate plate, yieldable means for normally holding said plates in substantially parallel condition to one another, a mirror support arm pivoted to the outer end of said support plate and means for vertically adjusting said arm with respect to said support plate.

3. A device of the character described comprising a laterally extending bracket adapted to be attached to the body of a vehicle, a base plate axed to and extending outwardly from said bracket, an intermediate plate piVoted at its outer end to the outer end of said base plate, a support plate pivoted at its inner end to the inner end of the intermediate plate, and yieldable means for normally holding said plates in substantially parallel condition to one another, said means including a tension spring attached at one end to the base plate and at its other end to said support plate and extending through said intermediate plate, a mirror support arm piVoted to the outer end of said support plate, and means for vertically adjusting said arm with respect to said support plate.

GEORGE GROSSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,440,043 Wright Dec. 26, 1922 2,424,222 Brown et a1 July 22, 1947 2,556,976 Oetzel June 12, 1951 

